Werkself Review #OLYB04: 'The first step is done'

Summary: Schick brace ensures victory

Against the expected high press from the Greek hosts, Bayer 04 registered the first big chance in minute 16: Lucas Vázquez played the ball to Ibrahim Maza, who sent it on to Patrik Schick in the middle, but the Czech's shot was saved by Olympiacos goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis. Maza then came closest to an opener in the 29th minute, when his volley was tipped onto the bar by Tzolakis. Moments later, Ernest Poku dragged a shot wide. The Werkself were almost made to pay for the missed chances when Ayoub El Kaabi headed in from a free kick in first-half stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed by referee Joao Pinheiro following a VAR review as teammate Medhi Taremi was standing in an offside position and actively involved in the play. The visitors finally made the breakthrough in the second half: exactly on the hour mark, Poku set off on the counter after winning possession and teed up Schick, who finished clinically to make it 1-0. Just three minutes later, the Czech met Alejandro Grimaldo's corner and doubled the lead. Olympiacos pushed hard in the closing stages to get back into the contest, but Robert Andrich and Co defended intently until the end to preserve the 2-0 advantage.

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Reaction: 'Good performance by the team'

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand said at full time: "I'm very happy that we picked up this 2-0 win here. At the start I thought, 'Oh no, déjà-vu', because of the chances we missed. We then scored two very good goals in the second half, though. It was a good first leg and a good performance by the team. We're very pleased with the win."

Captain Andrich summarised: "Up until half-time, we failed to maintain control and should've taken the lead earlier. But after that, it was a very focused performance. The first step is now done."

Two-goal hero Schick thanked Poku for the "super ball" for his opener and then revealed the secret to his subsequent headed goal from Grimaldo's corner: "I knew that the goalkeeper is tall and always comes out for balls at the far post. So I signalled to Grima [Grimaldo] that he should play it short. He saw it and then it came off perfectly!" In summary, the Czech added: "It was a very professional performance. Everyone was focused and we're very pleased with this important first win."

Incidentally, this important win was also witnessed by UEFA officials Alexander Ceferin (President), Theodoros Theodoridis (General Secretary) and Zoran Laković (Deputy General Secretary), who met Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro and managing director sports Simon Rolfes before kick-off.

What the papers say: 'Brilliant position for the second leg'

"Leverkusen gain advantage in Piraeus" was the headline in kicker, which wrote: "Bayer Leverkusen struggled for long periods against an aggressive Olympiacos side, before a quickfire double from Schick untied the knot and took the Werkself to the brink of the last 16. Leverkusen kept the ball far away from their own goal with cleverness in the closing stages to hold onto the two-goal lead and a brilliant position for the second leg at home."

Meanwhile, Bild wrote: "In the expected fiery and hard-fought contest at the cauldron in Piraeus, Patrik Schick, 30, becomes the match-winner, firing Bayer to victory with a brace inside 144 seconds! With that, the Werkself avenge the 2-0 loss in the league phase 29 days ago." The Rheinische Post also referred to the clash last month, but noticed a better approach to the high-pressing hosts from Leverkusen in the opening stages this time: "As they did a month ago, Olympiacos pressed the Bundesliga runners-up high and aggressively in the early minutes, but the Werkself kept their composure and worked their way into the game."​

Personnel: Second Leverkusen brace scorer in knockout phase

It's not surprising that Schick was named 'Player of the Match' afterwards following his first brace in the Champions League. Moreover, the Czech international is only the second Leverkusen player ever to net twice in a knockout match in the competition, after Michael Ballack, who did so in a quarter-final second leg against Liverpool in the 2001/02 campaign. Also interesting: all five of Schick's goals in the Champions League have been scored between the 54th and 65th minute. Poku, who set up his opening goal here, registered his first assist in Europe's premier club competition.

Coach Hjulmand was full of praise for his striker afterwards: "Patrik is always important for us. He's shown sharp finishing in training recently. He made good runs and the first goal was put away very confidently. It was also a very well-timed pass from Ernest [Poku]. Patrik has a wealth of experience, which you notice in games like this." Talking of experience, with an average age of 28 years and 58 days, this was the oldest Leverkusen starting XI in a Champions League fixture. Included in the line-up was Exequiel Palacios, for whom it was a first UCL appearance since March 2025.

Stats: Fourth clean sheet

The Werkself kept a clean sheet in their first away win in a Champions League knockout match. It was already their fourth shutout in nine games in this season's competition - only English sides Tottenham Hotspur (6) and Arsenal (5) boast more. Another good omen for the return leg could be that in 24 of their 26 European knockout ties to date, Leverkusen have always progressed when they've won the first leg.

Coming up: Trip to Berlin before return game

Before Bayer 04 welcome Olympiacos to the BayArena for the second leg next Tuesday (24 February, 21:00 CET), they resume their Bundesliga campaign at 1. FC Union Berlin this weekend. The Matchday 23 clash at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei kicks off at 15:30 CET on Saturday 21 February.